Biden administration considers sharing vaccines with North Korea: CNN | TheHill

Biden administration considers sharing vaccines with North Korea: CNN | TheHill


Biden administration considers sharing vaccines with North Korea: CNN
BY JORDAN WILLIAMS - 05/11/21

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The Biden administration is considering sharing COVID-19 vaccines with North Korea, unidentified sources familiar with the matter told CNN.

According to the network, a senior administration official said the U.S. would require a system to certify that North Korean citizens are being vaccinated.

“While we are open to considering DPRK requests for humanitarian assistance, these would need to be accompanied by effective monitoring to ensure that it reached the intended beneficiaries,” the official said.


There are no current plans to share vaccines with North Korea, the official added, noting that the nation “has refused to cooperate with COVAX and rejected offers of COVID-19 assistance from [South Korea]."

But current and former officials told the news outlet that sharing vaccines could begin diplomatic engagement with Pyongyang, as they believe North Korea won’t be ready to engage with the U.S. until the pandemic no longer presents a threat.

The Biden administration completed its policy review for North Korea. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in late April the administration will take a “calibrated, practical approach” to denuclearization that explores diplomacy.

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But the extent of COVID-19’s impact on North Korea is unclear. A tracker from the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that North Korea reported no coronavirus cases or deaths as of Tuesday.

North Korea told the WHO that the nation hasn’t found a single infection out of everyone it tested for coronavirus through April, according to The Associated Press. But outsiders have been skeptical due to lackluster health infrastructure and its border with China.

The news outlet noted that North Korea barred tourists, flew out diplomats and heavily restricted cross-border traffic and trade amid the pandemic.